Sirigu: PSG are missing Ibrahimovic

Salvatore Sirigu has admitted Paris Saint-Germain are missing Zlatan Ibrahimovic following the French champions' second defeat inside a week.Zlatan Ibrahimovic's thigh injury has kept him out of PSG's last three games.

Ibrahimovic was conspicuous by his absence in both games, with the Sweden international still sidelined by a thigh injury he sustained in the quarterfinal first-leg win over Chelsea.

After being beaten by Jordan Ferri's long-range strike for the only goal at the Stade de Gerland, PSG goalkeeper Sirigu, 27, told the press that the league leaders are missing their star striker.

"Yes, because he's a player who knows how to do everything," footbal365 reports him as saying. "We play differently with him.

"Now, we have to give confidence to those who have replaced him, because we do have some very good players. Also, the reality is that Zlatan is missing."

In Ibrahimovic's place was Edinson Cavani, who after having expressed his desire to play in a central role has so far failed to take his chance.

Less than impressive against Chelsea in midweek, the Uruguay international, 27, was also largely colourless against Lyon as PSG's lead at the top of the table was cut to 10 points with five matches remaining.

"We have to help him," football365 reports coach Laurent Blanc as saying, adding the thigh injury Cavani sustained earlier in the year had affected him. "Great players think about the World Cup, they always have that in mind.

"He got injured, and you can well imagine he doesn't want to miss the World Cup. He has to let himself go, because you can feel he's a player who's not relaxed. And in front of goal, that makes all the difference."